Clamp



CLAMP Filed June 24, 1955 lmml Patented May 26, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application June 24, 1935, Serial No. 28,178

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in clamps and, more especially, a clamp of the circular type adapted to be contracted on a round body.

Among the features of my invention is the provision of such a clamp that can be easily and cheaply made out of sheet metal or relatively thin strap iron. Clamps of this type comprise a circular band or strip of material having its ends provided with radial lugs or ears adapted to be engaged by a bolt to draw the same together to contract the hand. If such ears or lugs are formed by bending the ends of the band or strip of which the clamp is made, the entire material must be relatively thick and strong to prevent the lugs from bending. If the entire band is not made of heavy material, then the lugs have to be made of separate material fastened to the band.

Among the features of my invention is the provision of a clamp in which the lugs or ears are formed by bending outwardly the ends of the band. The band and the ears, however, may be made of relatively thin flexible material. To prevent the lugs from bending, I provide the same with inwardly turned ends so that a fulcrum will be provided at the outer ends of the lugs. This fulcrum will prevent the lugs from bending on the band and concentrate the pull of the bolt at the ends of the band itself.

Other features and advantages of my invention will appear more fully as I proceed with my specification.

In those forms of devices embodying the features of my invention shown in the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a view in perspective; Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation showing the lugs in a different position; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the lugs in still another position; Fig. 4 is a view in side elevation of a modified form; Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the lugs in another position; Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the lugs in still another position; and. Fig. 7 is a front view.

The clamp shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 may be formed of a single piece of sheet metal in the form of a strap or band. This strap is bent to form the circular portion ID, the ends of which are bent radially outwardly to form the lugs or ears II and I2, said lugs or ears being suitably perforated with slots to accommodate the contracting bolt I3.

The extreme ends of the lugs I I and I2 are bent toward each other to form the feet Ii and. IN. It will be seen that the foot II is somewhat longer than the foot I 2.

In the operation of the clamps, the ends of the feet may be engaged with each other, as shown in Fig. 1, or the longer foot II may be engaged against the lug I2, as shown in Fig. 2, or the shorter foot I2 may be engaged against 5 the lug II, as shown in Fig. 3. It will be seen from this that the clamp can be adjusted to three different positions, each one giving a different size at the commencement of the contracting operation. In each case, however, there will be pro- 10 vided a fulcrum outside of the bolt I3 for the ends of the lugs that will prevent the outer ends of the lugs from bending toward each other as the bolt is tightened. With the outer ends of the lugs thus supported, the pull of the bolt will be 15 concentrated at the inner ends of the lugs, that is, at the ends of the circular portion or band I0 where the greatest efficiency will be obtained. With this construction, the entire clamp may be made of relatively thin material and the lugs and feet formed by merely bending the ends of this material, as shown.

The clamp shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and '7 is somewhat similar, except for the provision of a saddle at the end of the foot on one of the lugs in order topermit more secure engagement of the ends of the feet. As here shown, the clamp is bent to form a circular portion III] with the lugs III and H2 provided with slots to receive the contracting bolt II3. Likewise, the lugs III and H2 are provided with the feet III and H2 The lower end of the foot III however, is slotted and adjacent portions are bent inwardly and outwardly as indicated by II I and III in order to form the saddle I I I d therebetween. This saddle is adapted to receive the end of the foot 2 as shown in Fig. 4, to give more secure engagement and prevent one of the feet from slipping off of the other. This clamp also. however, may be used in the positions shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In the former, the lower end of the foot III engages the lugs H2 and in the latter, the foot I I2 engages the lug I I I to give different adjustments similar to the adjustments of the other clamp shown in Figs. 2 and 3, respectively.

While I have shown and described certain embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed in the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in my invention as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A clamp, including: a circular band; radially extending lugs on the ends of the band; a foot on the end of each lug, said feet adapted to engage each other, the band having sufiicient resiliency to permit the foot on one lug to engage the other lug; and means for drawing the lugs together.

2. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, in which the 7 feet are of unequal length.

3. A clamp as claimed in claim 1, in which one of the feet is provided with a saddle adapted to be engaged by the other foot.

4. A clamp, including: a circular band; radially extending lugs on the ends of the band; a foot on the end of each lug, said feet adapted to engage each other; and means for drawing the lugs together.

5. A clamp as claimed in claim 4, in which one of the feet is provided with a saddle adapted to be engaged by the other foot.

6. A clamp, including: a single strip of sheet metal bent to form a circular band with the ends thereof bent radially outwardly to form lugs and the extreme ends of the lugs bent toward each other to form feet; and means for drawing the lugs together.

TENNIS J. LA VALLEY. 

